This time Skyla didn’t hesitate. She was a powerhouse of knowledge when it came down to anime and the deep but reassuring voice of Zyair made her bold. She placed her hands on the table, took a deep breath and slowly commenced.
"To name a few, Kakashi, Levi, Luffy, Ken, Gojo, Nanami and Ichigo. Just like you dressed up during last year’s Annual Fashion Ramp. It was an amazing costume. And I know companies are making millions. This prospect is a goldmine if tapped strategically."
Her puckered lips stretched in a stunning smile and Zyair’s heart slightly tinged. His eyes wouldn’t waver from her even if he wanted to.
"Precisely, very aptly put and thank you. Ichigo’s final form is my personal favourite," he lightly tipped his head at the gorgeous lady with Auburn hair and she wholeheartedly smiled. A small blush appeared on her cheeks.
Zyair had to tear his eyes off and focus them on her equally unappealing husband. Although his ugliness lay inside him, Zyair felt nothing but disgust for him.
"You see Mr. Doran, your housewife possesses more business acumen than you when it comes down to anime matters. If I were in your shoes she would be my business partner in these matters," he added with a pinch of sarcasm and hoped that Doran was smart enough to feel that itch in his heart.
Doran’s jaw slightly clenched at how Zyair was trying to downplay him in front of his wife. This was disgraceful.
"Mr. Zyair, I have no interest in pursuing that line of work. I am comfortable with what I know and would like to continue with traditional clothing," the glare he was trying to give the man with the mask was found amusing by Zyair. He squared his shoulders and then simply shrugged them at him.
"Your loss, that’s all I would like to say. But I think the lady here has a lot of promise. I want to use her fresh ideas in our line of work. This is a waste of her potential. Don’t you think," Zyair asked him while drumming his hand on the wooden table. His fingers moved in synchronization. Doran had begun to detect where this conversation was headed.
"My wife likes staying home, she doesn’t want to be a working lady," Doran blatantly lied between his teeth. Lying came naturally to him and he never hesitated to do it.
"Is that so? And why is that if I may ask the lady?" Zyair’s sharp eyes were back on Skyla and the look in them instantly mellowed.
She shifted uncomfortably at the question and stole a peek at her husband, whose face had a forced smile going on now. Zyair wanted to see how much he could push him before that mask of lies would crack and he could peek at the real Doran Blackthorn.
A few seconds elapsed and Skyla didn’t answer but Doran spoke up.
"Having a tiny knowledge of anime doesn’t mean one can handle the complexities of the business world. She has no clue how our world operates nor does she want to be a part of it."
Zyair sideyed him with a hint of annoyance creeping up in his mysterious cerulean eyes. His brows bunched together and fine lines of his eyes stretched. He was clearly irritated.
"I think the lady can speak for herself or do you always answer on her behalf?"
The small hint of chiding in Zyair’s tone put Doran on edge. He didn’t want to anger his boss on their first formal dinner. They needed to make a good impression so he would keep extending his support to them.
"Not at all. Go ahead Skyla," he turned to his wife and gave her a nod. Skyla gulped, not understanding how to get out of this situation. She knew Doran would severely punish her if she dared tell the truth. She had to lie.
"Ummm, my husband is right Mr. Zyair. I don’t have much clue about business dealings. I like staying home and taking care of our house," her eyes and her tongue both were in a dilemma and Zyair could see through that false pretence she was putting up.
"But you have knowledge related to something which can be extremely useful, especially to my company. And we all start somewhere, don’t you want to have an opportunity to give this a try and put your knowledge into use," Zyair slowly asked. His fingers agitatedly drummed the table now.
"How?" Skyla’s heart was beating louder than before. She didn’t understand where this conversation was headed, but wherever it was. This was troubling for her.
"I have been looking for someone with a keen knowledge of the anime world. Not only knowledge but also a passion for it. I think you fit that category perfectly. Since your husband is not interested in the anime clothing line. My company is going to invest a huge sum of money in it. I would like to offer you a job."
He explained ever so calmly, not revealing that he knew how he had dropped a bomb on them.
Skyla’s small mouth flew open and her irises enlarged in surprise. Not in her wildest dream she had imagined that Zyair Kincaid would be offering her a job.
On the other hand, Doran was stumped. He hated the idea of his wife going out of the house to do a job, especially in an office. But thinking with his business mind he knew this was an opportunity to finally unveil the mysteries behind this man. He could ask Skyla to act as a spy for him.
𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢
"Ummm! I—I..." Skyla was lost for words, her hands were getting so sweaty as her heart thumped in her ears. Doran took matters into his own hands.
"What will be her job description?"
"I want her to be my personal secretary and advisor on anime-related matters," Zyair very confidently dropped the last bomb on them and a stunned silence followed his words.